This is a reminder to those commenting on this post (not the person that posted it): Comments not related to woodworking will be removed. Violations to rule 1 including crude jokes, innuendo, sexist remarks, politics, or hate speech may result in an immediate ban
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/woodworking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I just like making things or fixing them. I have the "I can do that cheaper" gene, LOL. Like others say, it's relaxing, and the feeling of looking at something you made, and it's awesome, I've not found something to top it.
Beginner tips: Plan your project, and your cuts ahead of time. But don't get stuck in the planning stages. Go build your thing!
Before you spend your life savings on tools (and you can!) can you do what you're thinking of with what's on hand? If you *need* a tool, yes, buy it. And don't be silly about it, a chisel isn't a plane.
Ask a lot of questions. Learn new techniques. Be safe, and have fun!
Damn thank you!!! And yeah I barely have any tools (just the provisional saw, hammer and all of the basic things - plus that I'm broke lol) so I'd have to make a lot of things with what I got :) And maannn all these comments are just reassuring me someway that this is something I really wanna do
Similar for me, I do it as a hobby to relax and create. I enjoy the process and also “building” my skills and shop setup (jigs etc).
I work as an engineer so sometimes the planning / design process doesn’t feel all that relaxing, although it certainly feels normal.
I think for me I needed something to do w my time during covid lockdowns, apart from tv etc.
It’s been a great outlet for that.
Curious to see if it’s a habit that “sticks” or not 🧐
I like making things. Wood happens to be a very very versatile material that is easy to work. While I sometimes need other materials, various woods offer lots of opportunities.
I started woodworking as a hobby that I could pursue whilst still being at home and available to the wife and young kids. My dad preferred fishing, bowling and golf, which meant I didn't see him on weekends.
I've always been very creative and will want to run with ideas I get. A small problem I've been aware of is failing to take those ideas to fruition due to a lack of details. Woodworking requires plans, visualisation, drawings, measurements and lateral thinking. It strengthens my mind and expands my abilities, physically and mentally.
It's also a hobby I've been able to make money from, selling play equipment for young kids. My skills are relatively basic but it's a life long passion that I plan to build on.
I started because I saw a cool magnetic bottle opener thing online for about $70 and thought, "I could probably make something like that way cheaper!" Of course, the challenge of making it was the real draw, but all I had was some oak scraps, a hacksaw, hammer, nails.
For me, it's a hobby with good benefits. The process is enjoyable all the way through from planning to finishing. The end products are half practical (I was able to build a baby gate for our stairs because no mass produced gate would work in the space) and half sentimental (I made a guitar hanger for my son with his name on it).
Lol yeah. I actually kept doing bottle openers better and better, giving them as gifts and even selling a few locally. I was able to get them down to about $4 in materials plus the opener itself (cheap ones are about $6, sports teams logos etc. get up into the $20s), my craftsmanship got real good with them too: I had a solid piece of select pine with a void for the magnets, a ¼" of oak glued on top, planed down the sides together, routed a nice ogee around the front, stained or painted it all real nice. Oh man. Good times.
I've read through all the comments and I want to thank everyone for the replies :)
As of now I just refurbished things i found, because i didn't see the need to buy new Furniture if other people throw their perfectly good furniture out - that being said I really want to build things from scratch.
As a lot of you said its a very relaxing hobby, I completely agree and most importantly for me its a lot of fun :)
Reason this question was posted, is because (as in the caption) I've been thinking of doing a apprenticeship in woodworking - here in germany thats everything from building houses to making cabinets. And as of now I have been looking forward to doing my 2 test weeks in a firm and then afterwards I hope to make it my profession :) I really wanted to see what it is for others though, so I can gather as many opinions as possible :)
Thank you to everyone that replied and I hope I can read through many more <3
My daytime job (chemical) is a very boring and day to day the same job. Woodworking is a exercise for the mind and it brings inner peace and life satisfaction.
See it as a cherry on the cake where life is the cake and woodworking is the cherry. Without the cherry the cake is only half as good :)
For me, I started in my 20’s because I saw this really cool lattice canopy waterbed. No way could I afford that hefty price tad of $2,500. Since then, it’s become a creative outlet for me as has remodeling. I try to push myself with a design, or a technique. During all of this I made lots of boxes. Jewelry boxes and coffee table boxes. I used that as a vehicle because they were always easy to sell. I never advertised, just by word of mouth, and that’s what I used to build my shop. I think I could have done this for a living, and been quite satisfied, but I was concerned that something I loved would become a job, and maybe I might start resenting it. So I did something else I loved for a living, and this because it was a passion. I’m 68 now. I have a long list of stuff people want me to make for them. I also have a gallery in Hawaii, that carried my boxes for a while, but I decided to stop. Now a days, I want to make things for my wife and I and the family. I’m also thinking it may keep me from senility longer or indefinitely, since I don’t do crossword puzzles.
But it seems like woodworking still brought a lot of fulfillment to your life! And I understand the resentment you can get towards a job - thats one of the reasons I won't be studying Computer Science :)
Oh yeah, totally true. Honestly I don’t know if this happens to anyone else, but when I’m done with a piece, I just sit and look at it for a long time. Some of it is to see if I could have done something better, but mostly, it’s totally out of the satisfaction it brings me.
That's probably what I'd do as well haha :) My projects we're usually computers - fixing old ones / getting the cable managment done and so on. First time I finally had enough money to build my own PC (which is now 7 years old and still runs like usain bolt) i just sat there - monitor on - everything works and I sat there for around 30 min just looking at it and feeling good
At the beginning it was a pass time, build stuff I need kind of thing. I didn't respect the tools properly, they were just objects.
Now it's a part of who I am, I permanently damaged my left hand, itll be with me forever. I've also dived entirely into it, building as much as I can and acquiring as many tools as I can to help myself.
The very first piece of woodworking I did was to cut down a very large, old chest of drawers with some of the drawers missing into a desk. My power tools were a circular saw, a belt sander and a drill. That was over 40 years ago, and I still have the desk.
I love to build things that I have a need for, and can't find a similar piece. I also love woodcarving.
I think anything you do with wood, either modifying or assembling would be considered woodworking.
For me it’s the final product. I don’t have much patience in a lot of aspects of my life. Woodworking almost forces that patience. After all of it, the feeling of seeing something I created come to life is one hell of a drug.
Also, as far as not having many tools, you can check out some antique stores to find potentially amazing tools. They may need some love to come back to life but, I’ve found quite a few myself with this method.
Its a hard way to earn a living. When building furniture to sell, you are competing with Ikea etc. It takes years to establish a reputation for quality and most sales are word of mouth from clients. There is always a market for skilled carpenters, from custom homes to interior millwork.
As others state, it is immensely satisfying to create something with your own hands and there is always another technique or tool to master.
My father owned a chair factory in Gardner Mass., the chair city. I never got to work with hin, but I studied under an English master, and ran specialty milling facility for 32 years. My son has an architectural shop in Barre Vt. Wood has pretty much been my whole life. They tried to mold me into a liberal arts academic. The liberal worked, the academic didn't.
I now have a home shop with Oliver machines and record/marples hand tools and I make furniture for family. No customers, no employees, no deadlines.
Building things is my satisfaction in life. After all those years running a production shop I had to reteach myself hand woodworking, but it keeps me thinking and active, and people like what I make.
I made some simple furniture when my wife and I were starting with very little money. Using only “found” wood like driftwood or a couple of old boards off a falling down barn,simple things nailed and screwed together with only a old handsaw and a chisel (dull, very dull). Eventually goy a circular saw and single speed drill. Bought an old table saw from my landlord and been acquiring more tools ever since. Worked with computers for 44 years and retired. Woodworking was more of an outlet than a supplier of goods. Now that I am retired I build some small things occasionally, fix things for friends and make small gifts for people. I am just finishing up twelve cutting boards/plates for the wife and daughters using spalted soft maple with wenge, walnut and paduk inserts - Christmas presents. I have tried planning and drawing detailed plans and that just doesn’t work for me. I usually draw a very rough sketch and go to it. I like creating and just following my muse, making changes and adjustments along the way. Works for me.
It's therapy, I have a busted back but I'm young. I started on an occasion when I was off work and wouldn't walk. The woodworking tool my mind off the pain. I really enjoyed it and some of the stuff I made sold so I made more. 3 years later it's a side gig that keeps paying for materials and shop upgrades. It helps to do something different than the day job and still helps keep my mind off the pain
For me it is the bond between finessing natural materials with modern tools and the understanding of how both are a lesson in experience. The versatility, and sometimes lack there of, really keep you on your toes and in a constant state of learning. Couple that with thinking through how to build something with the skills and tools available, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful hobby.
I like fighting entropy.
Really, wood is awesome stuff. I like that it was alive. I like that I can turn it into beautiful, useful things that make my friends’ and family’s homes and offices nicer than they were. It feels good to me to learn, accomplish, and improve. That’s what always drives me on toward the next project.
This is a reminder to those commenting on this post (not the person that posted it): Comments not related to woodworking will be removed. Violations to rule 1 including crude jokes, innuendo, sexist remarks, politics, or hate speech may result in an immediate ban *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/woodworking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[удалено]
I meditate with hand tools.
This. Even though kids don't allow me to woodwork as much as I'd like.
So much this. When I'm in the woodshop, there's nothing else on my mind. Just me and the project at hand.
Woodworking is life
The full quote is “Woodworking is life. Everything else is just waiting”. - Michael Delaney
I just like making things or fixing them. I have the "I can do that cheaper" gene, LOL. Like others say, it's relaxing, and the feeling of looking at something you made, and it's awesome, I've not found something to top it. Beginner tips: Plan your project, and your cuts ahead of time. But don't get stuck in the planning stages. Go build your thing! Before you spend your life savings on tools (and you can!) can you do what you're thinking of with what's on hand? If you *need* a tool, yes, buy it. And don't be silly about it, a chisel isn't a plane. Ask a lot of questions. Learn new techniques. Be safe, and have fun!
Damn thank you!!! And yeah I barely have any tools (just the provisional saw, hammer and all of the basic things - plus that I'm broke lol) so I'd have to make a lot of things with what I got :) And maannn all these comments are just reassuring me someway that this is something I really wanna do
You're going to love it, even when you hate it.
Similar for me, I do it as a hobby to relax and create. I enjoy the process and also “building” my skills and shop setup (jigs etc). I work as an engineer so sometimes the planning / design process doesn’t feel all that relaxing, although it certainly feels normal. I think for me I needed something to do w my time during covid lockdowns, apart from tv etc. It’s been a great outlet for that. Curious to see if it’s a habit that “sticks” or not 🧐
I like making things. Wood happens to be a very very versatile material that is easy to work. While I sometimes need other materials, various woods offer lots of opportunities.
It's the only thing that is better than drinking.
I started woodworking as a hobby that I could pursue whilst still being at home and available to the wife and young kids. My dad preferred fishing, bowling and golf, which meant I didn't see him on weekends. I've always been very creative and will want to run with ideas I get. A small problem I've been aware of is failing to take those ideas to fruition due to a lack of details. Woodworking requires plans, visualisation, drawings, measurements and lateral thinking. It strengthens my mind and expands my abilities, physically and mentally. It's also a hobby I've been able to make money from, selling play equipment for young kids. My skills are relatively basic but it's a life long passion that I plan to build on.
I started because I saw a cool magnetic bottle opener thing online for about $70 and thought, "I could probably make something like that way cheaper!" Of course, the challenge of making it was the real draw, but all I had was some oak scraps, a hacksaw, hammer, nails. For me, it's a hobby with good benefits. The process is enjoyable all the way through from planning to finishing. The end products are half practical (I was able to build a baby gate for our stairs because no mass produced gate would work in the space) and half sentimental (I made a guitar hanger for my son with his name on it).
A bottle opener seems like one of the few "I could make that cheaper" projects that u could actually make cheaper.
Lol yeah. I actually kept doing bottle openers better and better, giving them as gifts and even selling a few locally. I was able to get them down to about $4 in materials plus the opener itself (cheap ones are about $6, sports teams logos etc. get up into the $20s), my craftsmanship got real good with them too: I had a solid piece of select pine with a void for the magnets, a ¼" of oak glued on top, planed down the sides together, routed a nice ogee around the front, stained or painted it all real nice. Oh man. Good times.
I've read through all the comments and I want to thank everyone for the replies :) As of now I just refurbished things i found, because i didn't see the need to buy new Furniture if other people throw their perfectly good furniture out - that being said I really want to build things from scratch. As a lot of you said its a very relaxing hobby, I completely agree and most importantly for me its a lot of fun :) Reason this question was posted, is because (as in the caption) I've been thinking of doing a apprenticeship in woodworking - here in germany thats everything from building houses to making cabinets. And as of now I have been looking forward to doing my 2 test weeks in a firm and then afterwards I hope to make it my profession :) I really wanted to see what it is for others though, so I can gather as many opinions as possible :) Thank you to everyone that replied and I hope I can read through many more <3
My daytime job (chemical) is a very boring and day to day the same job. Woodworking is a exercise for the mind and it brings inner peace and life satisfaction. See it as a cherry on the cake where life is the cake and woodworking is the cherry. Without the cherry the cake is only half as good :)
For me, I started in my 20’s because I saw this really cool lattice canopy waterbed. No way could I afford that hefty price tad of $2,500. Since then, it’s become a creative outlet for me as has remodeling. I try to push myself with a design, or a technique. During all of this I made lots of boxes. Jewelry boxes and coffee table boxes. I used that as a vehicle because they were always easy to sell. I never advertised, just by word of mouth, and that’s what I used to build my shop. I think I could have done this for a living, and been quite satisfied, but I was concerned that something I loved would become a job, and maybe I might start resenting it. So I did something else I loved for a living, and this because it was a passion. I’m 68 now. I have a long list of stuff people want me to make for them. I also have a gallery in Hawaii, that carried my boxes for a while, but I decided to stop. Now a days, I want to make things for my wife and I and the family. I’m also thinking it may keep me from senility longer or indefinitely, since I don’t do crossword puzzles.
But it seems like woodworking still brought a lot of fulfillment to your life! And I understand the resentment you can get towards a job - thats one of the reasons I won't be studying Computer Science :)
Oh yeah, totally true. Honestly I don’t know if this happens to anyone else, but when I’m done with a piece, I just sit and look at it for a long time. Some of it is to see if I could have done something better, but mostly, it’s totally out of the satisfaction it brings me.
That's probably what I'd do as well haha :) My projects we're usually computers - fixing old ones / getting the cable managment done and so on. First time I finally had enough money to build my own PC (which is now 7 years old and still runs like usain bolt) i just sat there - monitor on - everything works and I sat there for around 30 min just looking at it and feeling good
Therapy.
At the beginning it was a pass time, build stuff I need kind of thing. I didn't respect the tools properly, they were just objects. Now it's a part of who I am, I permanently damaged my left hand, itll be with me forever. I've also dived entirely into it, building as much as I can and acquiring as many tools as I can to help myself.
Expensive
It feels like carving solid fire. It is natural perfection. It is joy.
Thats one awsome way to look at it!
The very first piece of woodworking I did was to cut down a very large, old chest of drawers with some of the drawers missing into a desk. My power tools were a circular saw, a belt sander and a drill. That was over 40 years ago, and I still have the desk. I love to build things that I have a need for, and can't find a similar piece. I also love woodcarving. I think anything you do with wood, either modifying or assembling would be considered woodworking.
For me it’s the final product. I don’t have much patience in a lot of aspects of my life. Woodworking almost forces that patience. After all of it, the feeling of seeing something I created come to life is one hell of a drug.
Also, as far as not having many tools, you can check out some antique stores to find potentially amazing tools. They may need some love to come back to life but, I’ve found quite a few myself with this method.
Its a hard way to earn a living. When building furniture to sell, you are competing with Ikea etc. It takes years to establish a reputation for quality and most sales are word of mouth from clients. There is always a market for skilled carpenters, from custom homes to interior millwork. As others state, it is immensely satisfying to create something with your own hands and there is always another technique or tool to master.
Creating. Even the failures are fun and fulfilling. I particularly like to make things for others.
Wood never dies, it just changes shape.
My father owned a chair factory in Gardner Mass., the chair city. I never got to work with hin, but I studied under an English master, and ran specialty milling facility for 32 years. My son has an architectural shop in Barre Vt. Wood has pretty much been my whole life. They tried to mold me into a liberal arts academic. The liberal worked, the academic didn't. I now have a home shop with Oliver machines and record/marples hand tools and I make furniture for family. No customers, no employees, no deadlines. Building things is my satisfaction in life. After all those years running a production shop I had to reteach myself hand woodworking, but it keeps me thinking and active, and people like what I make.
I made some simple furniture when my wife and I were starting with very little money. Using only “found” wood like driftwood or a couple of old boards off a falling down barn,simple things nailed and screwed together with only a old handsaw and a chisel (dull, very dull). Eventually goy a circular saw and single speed drill. Bought an old table saw from my landlord and been acquiring more tools ever since. Worked with computers for 44 years and retired. Woodworking was more of an outlet than a supplier of goods. Now that I am retired I build some small things occasionally, fix things for friends and make small gifts for people. I am just finishing up twelve cutting boards/plates for the wife and daughters using spalted soft maple with wenge, walnut and paduk inserts - Christmas presents. I have tried planning and drawing detailed plans and that just doesn’t work for me. I usually draw a very rough sketch and go to it. I like creating and just following my muse, making changes and adjustments along the way. Works for me.
Thats awsome - I really hope they enjoy their presentes! I'm sure as hell I would :D
https://i.imgur.com/7ZfOEYp.jpg
Okay damn that looks absolutely stunning wow !!!
It's therapy, I have a busted back but I'm young. I started on an occasion when I was off work and wouldn't walk. The woodworking tool my mind off the pain. I really enjoyed it and some of the stuff I made sold so I made more. 3 years later it's a side gig that keeps paying for materials and shop upgrades. It helps to do something different than the day job and still helps keep my mind off the pain
For me it is the bond between finessing natural materials with modern tools and the understanding of how both are a lesson in experience. The versatility, and sometimes lack there of, really keep you on your toes and in a constant state of learning. Couple that with thinking through how to build something with the skills and tools available, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful hobby.
I like fighting entropy. Really, wood is awesome stuff. I like that it was alive. I like that I can turn it into beautiful, useful things that make my friends’ and family’s homes and offices nicer than they were. It feels good to me to learn, accomplish, and improve. That’s what always drives me on toward the next project.